Means for interchanging the functions of complementary heat exchange elements



March 16, 1937.

J. VOGLER 2,073,891 MEANS FOR INTERCHANGING THE FUNCTIONS OFCOMPLEMENTARY HEAT EXGHA E ELEMENTS Filed May 31 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOE Josevn VoeLEE March 16, 1937. J. VOGLER 2,073,891

MEANS F INTERCHANGING THE FUNCTI COMPL NTARY HEAT EXCHANGE ELEM FiledMay 31, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 32 so I W A Y 1% 7 Patented Mar. 16, 1937UNITED STATES BIEANS FOR INTERCHANGING THE FUNC- TIONS OF COMPLEMENTARYHEAT EX- CHANGE ELEMENTS Joseph Vogler, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor toBaldwin-Southwark Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application May31, 1933, Serial No. 673,733

6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to air conditioning apparatus of thetype utilizing complementary heat exchange elements in a refrigeratingsystem and more particularly to improved ..means for interchanging thefunctions of said elements whereby the refrigerating system may beemployed for either heating or cooling the air of homes, oflices orrooms used for various purposes.

It is well-known that a condenser of a refrigerating system gives off aquantity of heat depending upon the amount of heat extracted from theair or other medium which is circulated over the evaporator and that theevaporator cools this medium in extracting heat therefrom. Hence it isseen that room air may be cooled or heated depending upon whether theheat exchange element, over which the room air flows, is serving as acondenser or evaporator, it being understood that the heat exchangeelements have preferably a fixed physical relation to each other andthat room air flows over one of said elements and that preferablyoutside air flows over the other. To change the air conditioningapparatus from a room cooler to a heater or vice versa merely requiresthat the direction of flow of the refrigerant through the heat exchangeelements be reversed thereby interchanging the condenser and evaporatorfunctions of the heat exchange elements.

It is one object of my invention to utilize the foregoing principles andmode of operation by providing improved means for interchanging theevaporator and condenser functions of the heat exchange elements. Afurther object is to accomplish the interchanging operation by employingpreferably a plurality of valves and improved operating means therefor.Another object in this respect is to so arrange and control the valvesthat they may be very tightly sealed and held to their seat at all timesto minimize or prevent leakage of refrigerant while at the same timepermitting the valves to be easily and positively operated withoutimposing undue strains upon the operating mechanism or its supportingstructure.

Another object is to provide an improved valve arrangement and operatingmeans whereby the operating forces are preferably self-contained, thusallowing the tightly sealed and held valves to be moved Without abnormalstrains being transmitted to the supporting structure.

A further object is to provide an improved sup porting arrangement forthe valve or valves with respect to the heat exchange elements and alsoto provide improved means for connecting the high and lowpressure'refrigerant pipes to the valves whereby a simple and efiectivecommunication is made between the pipes and valves.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent to those skilled inthe art from the following description of the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Fig. i is a partial perspective of an air conditioning room unitembodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the valve mechanism and operating meanstherefor and also showing the supporting relation thereof with respectto the heat exchange elements;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the valves taken at the level ofthe high and low pressure p p s;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic outline of a compressor-condenser-expandercircuit with interchanging valves therein;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinally vertical section through one of theadjusting nuts and screws with a valve arm attached thereto;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified arrangement employing a worm andworm sectors for operating the valves;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified form of valve actuating meansemploying rack and pinion;

Fig. 8 is a further modification employing a screw similar to thepreferred form but with a modified form of attachment of the valve armsto the screw;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a further modification employing cam actuatingmeans.

In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, which are shown hereinmerely for the purpose of disclosing certain specific forms among othersthat the invention might take, I employ any suitable refrigeratingsystem having complementary heat exchange elements with afixed physicalrelation between them and with fixed paths for the fiow of room air andoutside air over the respective elements. It will be understood that myinvention is particularly applicable to a self-contained airconditioning room unit such as shown in Galson application, filedDecember 24, 1932, Serial No. 648,772, and it is to be considered thatthe invention herein is applied to a unit of the Galson type wherein oneheat exchange element generally indicated at I has outside aircirculated thereover while room air is circulated over the other heatexchange element generally indicated at 2, see Figs. 2 and 4, thesebeing connected to a suitable compressor.

For purposes of clarity, my improved interchanging means and associatedfeatures will be described as though the unit were operating as a roomcooler wherein, as shown in Fig. 4, suitable refrigerant is compressedin a compressor 3 and discharged through pipes 4 of the high side andthence through a passage 5 of an interchanging valve 6 to pipe 1 whichconnects to condenser I over which outside air is circulated to efiectcondensation of refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant then flowspreferably through a double trap or expansion valve system as shown inNeeson application, filed January 25, 1933, Serial No. 653,466, whereinone trap or expansion valve 8 which is inoperative during the coolingfunction of the unit allows liquid to flow freely through pipe 9 and anoperative trap or expansion valve In to the evaporator 2 whichpreferably is of the flooded type and over which room air is circulated.Low pressure refrigerant gas evaporated in evaporator 2 is dischargedthrough the low pressure or suction pipe H and thence through port I 2of a second interchange valve I3. The gas then flows through the pipe 14to the intake of compressor 3.

To cause this system to heat the room air, it is only necessary torotate valves 8 and I3 until their respective ports 5 and I2 are in thedotted line position as shown in Fig. 4 in which event the compressordischarge pipe 4 communicates with pipe II and heat exchange element 2,thereby causing the latter to serve as a condenser over which the roomair flows to condense a refrigerant and in so doing to heat the air. Thecondensed refrigerant then flows through trap In which now becomesinoperative by virtue of the liquid flowing in a direction opposite tothat of the cooling cycle and continues through pipe 9 and trap 8, whichnow becomes operative to permit flow of only refrigerant liquid but toprevent substantial flow of gaseous refrigerant. The refrigerant thencontinues through heat exchange element I now serving as an evaporatorand over which outside air flows thereby permitting extraction of heatfrom the outside air to evaporate the liquid refrigerant, the extractedheat being carried in the gaseous refrigerant through pipe 1 to valvepassage l2 and pipe H to the suction side of the compressor whichcompresses the gas to permit the condenser opera tion and repeat theabove cycle.

It is of the utmost importance that leakage of refrigerant be preventedor reduced to the smallest possible minimum and to accomplish this withvalves of simple form, it is usually necessary that such valves betightly sealed and held in their seat. However, it is equally necessarythat such valves shall be easily and positively operated to effect theiroperation and also to have the valves supported in a relatively simpleand economical manner so as to avoid expensive and complicatedconstructions.

To accomplish the foregoing results, the pipes and H, connectedrespectively to the heat exchange elements I and 2, are'brought outlaterally from said elements and preferably over the top thereof asshown in Fig. 2, these pipes if desired being Welded as at l5 and IE orotherwise suitably secured to the headers I1 and 18 of the heat exchangeelements. The pipes T and H may be continued as single pieces or ifdesired suitable joints 9 and 20 may connect the continued portions 1and H of the pipes I and H. Said continued portions are preferablysubstantially parallel which is also preferably the case with pipes Tand H, although any of these pipes may assume any particular curvaturein leading to or from the joints [9 and 20. The provision of joints i9and 20 also permits the valve mechanism, to be described presently, tobe made as a unit and to be assembled with or removed from the heatelements while they remain in a fixed position within the cooler unit,these joints being preferably telescopic soldered connections.

The valve unit consists in having pipes l and H extend preferablyentirely through lugs 22 and 23 formed on opposite sides of the valvecasing 24. Inasmuch as the two valves 6 and I3 are identical inconstruction, the description of one will suifice for both and similarparts are accordingly given the same reference numbers. The pipe 1' isprovided with cut-out portions 25 and 26 and pipe H with cut-outportions 21 and 28 communicating with suitable ports in the valve bodieswhich in turn communicate with the hollow interior of a suitablerotatable plug valve 29 as through passages 5 and i2. The pipes 4 and 14connected directly to the compressor as shown in Fig. 4 are in theactual embodiment of Fig. 2 connected preferably at the lower portion ofthe valve casing herein specifically shown as extending axially from thebottom of the valve.

The valve lugs 22 and 23 are welded or soldered as at 30 to pipes II andl or are otherwise suitably secured thereto, while the ends of the pipesare closed in a relatively simple and effective manner by the provisionof an end brace 33 having recesses 32 and 32' into which said pipesextend to be secured by welding or soldering 34.

To cause the valve operating forces to be selfcontained within the valveand also to permit a high degree of ease of operation, there is provideda screw actuating shaft generally indicated at 35 having right and lefthand threads 36 and 31 upon which nuts 38 and 39 are threadedly mounted.Blocks 40 and 4| are secured to nuts 33 and 39 by pivot pins 42 and 43while valve operating handles 44, preferably round in crosssection, haveslidable engagement with the pivot blocks 40 and 4| through suitableholes therein.

To simply and adequately support the actuating shaft 35, the end member33 has a turned-up portion 45 while an intermediate bracket 45 issecured to the pipes 1 and H in the manner shown in Fig. 3 and also hasa turned-up portion provided with a hole 4'! in which an enlarged hub 48on screw shaft 35 is journalled. Hub 48 and bore 4! preferably do nothave any side flange. The bearing flange 46 thus provides preferablyonly a radial support for the screw shaft although the outer end of theshaft which passes through support 45.may be provided with removablenuts or collars 49 and 50 to take up any temporary tendency of axialdisplacement of the screw. The end of the screw shaft may be providedwith any suitable removable crank connecting means herein specificallyshown as a socket and slot generally indicated at 5| with which a crank52 may be removably connected by insertion through a suitable opening 53in the end of the room unit cabinet 54 which encloses the entire unit.

The interchanging valve mechanism as shown in Fig, 1 is preferablydisposed at one end of the unit above the compressor 3 from which theheat exchange elements extend longitudinally toward the other end of theunit. Hence it is seen that the interchanging valves are renderedaccessible not only to the hand crank 52 but also to the compressordischarge and suction pipes while the heat exchange elements arearranged to permit their pipes "l and II to adequately support theinterchanging valve unit. all of which effects a most desirablearrangement both from the standpoint of manufacture, inspection andrepair as well as convenience of operation.

Operation.The operation of the refrigerating system when used either forcooling or heating has been previously described but the following isthe operation of the valve mechanism for interchanging the functions ofthe condenser and evaporator. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that thevalves 6 and I3 have their operating arms or handles 44 angularlyrelated to each other while the ports 5' and I2 of the valves 6 and I3are arranged whereby the valve arms are moved inwardly toward each otherto effect one mode of operation and outwardly away from each other toeffect the other mode of operation such as heating or cooling. To effectthis valve movement, it is only necessary to insert the crank 52 withinthe pin and slot 5! of the actuating screw 35 so that upon rotationthereof the nuts 38 and 39 will be moved toward or away from each otherdue tothe right and left hand threads 36 and 31. This mode of operationinsures that the relatively large forces necessary to turn the valveswill be equal and opposite and hence substantially self-contained sothat no large supporting members or bearings are necessary. Any unequalforces that might occur will be suitably taken care of by theintermediate bracket 46 or end bracket 45. It is also seen that myimproved arrangement permits interchanging valves 6 and l3 to beassembled as a unit, including pipes I and H, brackets and 45 and thevalve operating mechanism such as the screw 35, the nuts and pivotblocks therefor together with the associated mechanism as abovedescribed and shown.

In the modification shown in- Fig. 6 the valves 5 and 33 are supportedon pipes l and ii similarly to the preferred form except that the valvestems are each provided with worm sectors and 5d actuated by a. commonworm gear 5'5! which is supported in suitable hearings 58 carriedpreferably by pipes l and ii. Rotation oi the worm will cause clockwisemovement or one gear and counterclockwise movement of the other and thevalve ports would he arranged to cooperate with such direction ofmovement to eiiect interchange of the evaporator and condenserfunctions.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 the val es t and it are providedwith spur gear sectors 59 and a: commonly actuated by a pinion iii whoseshaft is suitably journalled in a bracket 62 can i'ied by pipes l andii. Rotation of pinion ill will effect rotation of the valves in thesame direction whenever moved. It will also be noted that in eitherdirection of movement, actuating forces between the gears besubstantially salt-contained.

"The modification of Fig. 8 is somewhat similar to the preferred formexcept that an actuating screw til is supported only by its pivotalconnection t l with nuts 65, there henig no sliding connection betweenthe valve arms to and the nuts. Rotation of the screw is provided withright and left hand threads so that rotation thereof will cause thevalve arms to be moved toward or away from each other, As the arms areadjusted the screw will move lateral y toward or away from the valvesand to permit this movement while at the same time maintaining theoperating crank in engagement with the screw, the cabinet is providedwith an elongated slot El in which the screw can freely move. It for anyreason one valve should become stuck so that the other valve would firstmove, it will he noted that upon completion of the movement of the freevalve, the stem thereof engage either one of stops 68 or 59 after whichthe entire operating force will be applied to turn the stuck valve orthe valve which oifers the greatest resistance.

In Fig. 9 the valves 6 and I3 are supported and arranged in the mannerof the preferred form except that the valve arms Ill have their outerends bent up as at H to engage the cam surfaces 12 formed by slots 13directed toward each other v in a plate I4. This plate may be shiftedtransversely of the valves in any suitable manner, one specific form ofwhich is to employ a screw 15 suitably anchored against longitudinalmovement so that a nut 18 carried by plate '14 will be moved and therebyeffect swinging of the valve arm 10.

From all of the foregoing disclosures it is seen that I have provided arelatively simple and economical and yet highly effective means forinterchanging the functions of a condenser and evaporator and at thesame time permit the valves to be tightly sealed and held to their seatsto prevent leakage of refrigerant.

It will of course be understood by those skilled 'in the art thatvarious changes may be made in the details of construction andarrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the inventionas set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a plurality of rotatable valves disposed with theiraxes substantially parallel, and means for simultaneously moving saidvalves relative to each other, including a screw disposed in a directiontransverse to said axes and connected to each of said valves to provideself-contained and opposed operating forces.

2. In combination, a plurality of rotatable valves disposed with theiraxes substantially parallei, and means for simultaneously actuating saidvalves including a screw disposed in a direction transverse to saidaxes, arms secured to each of said valves, and pivotal connectionsbetween said arms and screw.

3. In combination, a plurality of rotatable valves disposed with theirasses substantially parallel, and means for simultaneously actuatingsaid valves including a screw disposed in a direction transverse to saidaxis, arms secured to each of said valves, and slidable connectionsbetween said arms and screw.

i. In combination, a plurality of rotatable valves disposed with theiraxes substantially parallel, and means for simultaneously actuating saidvalves including a screw disposed in a direction transverse to said axesand having left and right hand threaded portions, nuts on said threadedportions, and arms carried by said valves operatively connected to saidnuts whereby upon rotation of said screw the valves are rotated inopposite directions.

5. In combination, pipes terminating in substantially parallel portions,and valves each supported on each of said parallel pipe portions, eachof said pipes being arranged to have communication with each valve.

6. in combination, a plurality of valves each having on thecorrespondingly same side 2. lateral port terminating adjacent a. pipeseat, and a pipe of substantially uniform cross-section. received bysaid pipe seats and extending from one seat of one valve to the seat ofthe other of said valves, said pipe having lateral openings registeringwith said ports.

JOSEPH VOGE.

